Consolidation Watch: Proposed Metro Government Unfunded Liabilities for retirement exceed $1,500,000,000

Information distributed at the Metro Charter Commission meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2010 indicated the new Metro Government would assume the following "unfunded liabilities" for retirement:

-Shelby County has a surplus or $26,772,516 in its pension fund and an "unfunded liability" for "Other Post Employment Benefits" of -$257,543,000.

-The City of Memphis has an "unfunded liability" of -$449,527,000 in its pension fund and -$934,240,000 for"Other Post Employment Benefits".

Unfunded liabilities are an accounting figure estimating future liability that is not covered by current assets or revenues. "Other Post Employment Benefits" are mostly for retirement. It is not unusual for government or private businesses to have large "unfunded liabilities" for retirement.

Under the proposed "Metro Government" consolidation, the over $1,383,767,000 in "unfunded liabilities" of the City of Memphis is expected to become the liability of all of Shelby County residents and property owners, in addition to the existing Shelby County unfunded liability of $257,543,000.

Due to the type of retirement system provided Lakeland personnel, the City of Lakeland does not have any similar "unfunded liabilities" for either pensions or "Other Post Employment Benefits".

May Events

I can't believe it this will be May of 2010! Time does go fast, and their are some great events this month in Lakeland! Highlights this month include the Senior Potluck Dinner at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 21, 2010 at the IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road, and on Saturday, May 22, 2010, the annual Fishing Rodeo for children ages 4-12!

Preregister by May 19, 2010 to avoid long lines. Additional information on both events is at www.Lakelandtn.gov.

Meetings and events include:

-Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting. (Town Meeting at 5:30 p.m.)

-Monday, May 10, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Park and Recreation Board meeting

-Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Design Review Commission meeting

-Thursday, May 13, 2010: Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Networking Mixer, Sponsored by Trustmark Bank. 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Club at Oakwood, 10133 Matwood Oak Drive RSVP at 483-6367 or www.MyLakelandChamber.com

-Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Natural Resources Board meeting

-Monday, May 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Municipal Planning Commission meeting

-Friday, May 21, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.: Senior Potluck Lunch, IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road

-Saturday, May 22, 2010: Fishing Rodeo at IH Park, 4523 Canada Road

-Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Board of Appeals meeting (if required)

-Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Board of Commissioners Work Session

-Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.: Economic Development Commission

Additional information is at www.Lakelandtn.gov, www.Twitter.com/Lakelandtn, www.twitter.com/cityoflakeland, and www.facebook.com/lakeland

Stop Litter and Support Lakeland Businesses Who Support Lakeland!

I noticed the Manager of the Lakeland Walgreens, Mark Lehner, and another Walgreens employee out picking up litter on their parking lot early one windy, cool, morning. This was just after receiving an e-mail from a resident concerned about Lakeland businesses that don't pick up litter on their property or take care of their property.

We appreciate the many businesses like the Lakeland Walgreens that put a lot of effort into taking care of their property and supporting Lakeland's efforts at beautification.

The Lakeland Natural Resources Board is starting a beautification program that will include a litter control element.

We urge Lakeland residents to support Lakeland businesses, especially those businesses who make special efforts to support Lakeland.

Lakeland CERT Class rescheduled from April 24 to May 1

CERT Class scheduled for Lakeland April 24 has been rescheduled to May 1, 2010 due to the impending weather

Share the Road! (If not, call 379-7625)

The City has received several complaints about bicycle riders and runners blocking traffic, advising motorists the road is "closed" and making obscene gestures and otherwise threatening motorists, especially in the area of Monroe Road. The City of Lakeland has not received, nor granted, any requests to close this road for a bicycle or running/walking event.

As a bicycle rider and walker myself (I hope a courteous one), I was disturbed at reports of bicycle riders and runners not "sharing the road" in a courteous manner. I see it from the perspective of a bicycle rider, pedestrian, and also as a motorist, and, 99% of the time, I feel all parties are courteous in Lakeland, in fact, I meet both motorists (when I am biking/walking) and bikers (when I am driving) who go out of their way to be courteous and "Share the Road".

However, after receiving three complaints in a short time about the same street, I have to assume there is merit in the complaints.

I discussed this with Steve Shular, of the Shelby County Sheriff Department. He advised me as follows:

-Bicycle riders and pedestrians (runners or walkers) have a right to legally use the road. Generally, bicycle riders and pedestrians are expected to stay in their lanes.

-Under no conditions (other than with a parade permit etc.) is it legal for bicycle riders or pedestrians to block the road, block traffic, or create a hazard. (Riding at a normal speed of the bicycle to the right in your lane is NOT blocking traffic.)

-Obviously anyone threatening, using abusive language or creating a hazard to the other party is not acceptable.

If anyone uses abusive or threatening language or gestures, etc., call the Sheriff Dispatcher at 379-7625. DO NOT try to handle it yourself, but call as soon as possible with your location and follow the instructions of the dispatcher until assistance arrives.

Reminder-Yard Waste must be in bags or containers

Lakeland residents are reminded that, since January 1, 2010, all yard waste must be bagged or in a green container to be picked up by All Star Waste Services as part of the regular pickup routes.

Yard waste that is not in a bag or container (such as limbs) will require a special pickup by calling All Star Waste Services at 901 854-8865 and requesting a special pickup. There is a $25 charge for special pickup of loose yard waste for the first 30 minutes and$10 for each additional five minutes.
Most loose yard waste I have observed can be picked up in 30 minutes. All Star Waste Systems vehicles are equipped with GPS locator's units to insure accuracy in billing. Charges for special pickups are billed directly by All Star Waste Systems.

The change was necessary due to the high cost of collecting loose limbs, which was being paid by all customers, current and future recycling requirements by the State of Tennessee and storm water requirements.

Metro Charter Commission April 8, 2010 Meeting

MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY
METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT CHARTER COMMISSION

4th Floor Committee Room
160 N. Main Street Suite 850
Memphis, Tennessee 38103

April 8, 2010
4:00 p.m.

Commission Values:
(1) Inclusiveness (2) Efficiency (3) Integrity (4) Innovation (5) Service


1. Moment of Silence Julie Ellis

2. Roll call Julie Ellis

3. Approval of Minutes-April 1, 2010 Julie Ellis

4. Administrative Update Rayne, Kuhn and Attorneys Kinard and Payne

5. Ethics Task Force Report -30 minutes Meade Walker

6. Public Safety Task Force Report – 30 minutes Rufus Washington

7. Legislative Task Force Report – 30 minutes Jim Strickland

8. Items of Discussion for Next Meeting
a. Health Task Force Report Carmen Sandoval
b. Legal and Judicial Task Force Report Chris Patterson
.
10. Comments from the Public and Organizations Julie Ellis
11. Other Business Julie Ellis

12. Adjournment Julie Ellis

FREE CERT classes scheduled. Be Prepared!

FREE C.E.R.T. (COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM) CLASS

SCHEDULED IN LAKELAND FOR APRIL 17th and 24th, SIGN UP NOW!

Claude Talford
Lakeland Emergency Management Director

A C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) class is scheduled at Lakeland City Hall April 17th and 24^th, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Both classes must be completed to receive C.E.R.T. certificate/certification. You can find the application on the Lakeland website, www.lakelandtn,gov. or sign up at City Hall. We need at least 20 people to sign up for the course. The C.E.R.T. classes are FREE and will prepare Lakeland and area residents to respond to emergencies. If we don’t fill the class it will be difficult to bring the program back to Lakeland, so be sure to inform your entire neighborhood.

Lakeland Residents have a rare opportunity to receive some quality training this month. The C.E.R.T. TO GO program is a trial program and if attendance is low the program may be canceled. If the program is canceled the only way for the citizens of Lakeland to receive the training is to travel to the EMA facility in Midtown Memphis (free course) or pay to take it from the Bartlett Fire Department.

The long term goal is to build a regular training program here in Lakeland once funds become available. Until that time we must depend on the Memphis/Shelby County program or the Bartlett Fire Department.

Good leadership is key to successful disaster response. A damaging flood, fire, earthquake or other emergency might overwhelm local fire, police, hospital, and city personnel. As a result, your neighborhood response teams might have to treat the injured, rescue those who are trapped and assess the damage to homes, neighborhoods, businesses and schools. C.E.R.T. training will provide you tips on how to organize your neighborhood response team.

If your neighborhood, work place or school doesn’t have an emergency response team, form one now. Local agencies such as Emergency Management and Red Cross can give you helpful information in setting up response teams. Emergency response teams will operate best if they are organized and have good leadership. The Planning Committee can develop goals and objectives before the next emergency.

The committee should give a Block or Team Captain the authority to make decisions after an emergency. It’s important, however, that the Block Captain work with other leaders and delegate assignments and responsibilities, as appropriate. To maintain control, no one person should direct more than 5-7 people. House meetings are a valuable tactic for recruiting volunteers and building a team. Your house meeting will help you identify your leadership team. Building community through house meetings is a critical step towards the President’s ultimate goal, which is to support everyday Americans in a grassroots effort to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Check out the following websites/links of interest

American Red Cross www.redcross.org

Citizen Corps www.citizencorps.gov

Ready.gov www.ready.gov

LINC/211 www.memphislibrary.org/linc/211.htm

Arbor Day 2010 Scheduled

ARBOR DAY 2010

Saturday, April 10th, 11 a.m., City Hall Park (10001 US Highway 70)

Eric Bridges, Natural Resources Department

Come celebrate Lakeland’s ninth Arbor Day and help us plant a tree at City Hall Park. We will be offering a free tree care workshop from nationally known forestry experts and will be handing out FREE TREES.

Mayor Carmichael will receive our sixth Tree City Award.

Jacob Brown, our Arbor Day Poster contest winner will be available to personally autograph your copy of the Winning Poster.

The tree planting this year will be in memory of Lew Cornett, who died March 6th. A redbud tree will be added to the memorial tree grove at City Hall Park in his memory. The plaque will not be ready in time for the ceremony but we still want to honor Lew on that day. Staff will install the plaque with his wife, Bobbi, later the following week.

Don’t miss the chance to support our efforts to keep Lakeland a Tree City!